Curiouser and Curiouser... An Incident with Grade 11 Drama Students and a Dog in the Night-Time

Oct272017

The study of drama is as much about "seeing" as it is about "doing." It is imperative that students studying drama are exposed to as much theatre and performance as possible. The Grade 11 Drama class recently attended a performance of a Tony Award-winning play at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

"This was my first live theatre experience and it was not what I expected," says Grade 11 student Lucas Musacchia. "I didn't realize a play could have actors and technology work together in such a perfect way."

The winner of 5 Tony and 7 Olivier Awards, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME is certainly deserving of the accolades it has earned. A phenomenal combination of storytelling and spectacle, the play is an innovative drama about the wonders of life.

Produced by the acclaimed National Theatre in London, England, playwright Simon Stephens adapted the international best-selling novel by Mark Haddon into an incredible piece of theatre.

"The stage itself was unbelievable, and the way the actors interacted with its various elements was something I've never seen before," commented Alessia Iafano. "I was just blown away by the whole thing."

Curious Incident chronicles a young boy's journey of discovery and is a story about difference, about being an outsider, and about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way. In short, it's about being human.

"There were many moments where I was moved to tears," says Savanna La Selva. "The scenes between the main character, Christopher, and his estranged mother were heart-breaking. And when the puppy appeared at the end, I couldn't hold back the tears I thought I had already exhausted."

The story centres around 15 year-old Christopher who has an extraordinary brain but is ill-equipped to interpret every day life. When he finds himself in the centre of a mystery, he puts his detective skills to work which take him on a frightening journey that turns his comfortable and predictable world upside down.

"It really made you think," says Olivia Misasi, "about our world and the many different types of people in it. It's a play about compassion and about looking for the magic in the mundane."

Surely a valuable lesson we can all learn. Theatre was created, after all, to tell the truth about life, and De La Salle students are learning that truth first hand.